WhatsApp will soon allow you to send messages directly to other apps such as Signal
Meta is currently working on improving WhatsApp interoperability by giving users the ability to message people directly on different platforms like Signal.
Evidence of this upgrade comes from WABetaInfo revealing the feature was found in a recent WhatsApp beta for iOS. The post offers very few concrete details, but enough to paint a picture of what the final release could look like.
An image accompanying the message shows that the Chats tab will have a new section exclusively for third-party conversations, which will store all outgoing chats. Users will apparently get manual control over this feature, with the ability to disable it at any time. In addition, text messages to and from external sources are provided with end-to-end encryption to ensure complete privacy.
📝 WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.2.10.72: what’s new? WhatsApp is working on a chat interoperability feature to comply with new EU regulations, and it will be available in a future update! https://t.co/wuOjTvciGp pic.twitter. com/9s49xosAfCJanuary 24, 2024
It is not known exactly how many and which platforms can communicate with WhatsApp. Signal is only mentioned as an example.
We normally recommend that you install the WhatsApp beta on iOS to try out this feature. However, the TestFlight program for the platform is completely full at the time of writing. No word on whether or not additional spots will open in the future. But if you owns an Android phone, you can join the Google Play Beta program and download the WhatsApp beta there. You may get a chance to try out the update. Google’s service usually has more spots available for people interested in early software versions.
New rules
Although not officially confirmed, WABetaInfo believes this increased interoperability is a result of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA, if you don’t remember or aren’t familiar with it, is a law that was passed in 2022 and was aimed squarely at big tech companies. Its main purpose is to limit the amount of power these ‘gatekeepers’ have over the industry and their users. One of the new rules requires companies that own a messaging platform (i.e. Meta) to allow people to talk to others through third-party apps. EU regulators were not happy with the fact that these services essentially function as islands; isolated from each other and forcing users to play by their rules.
After the law was passed, government officials in Europe gave these companies ample time to prepare their services for when the DMA would officially go into effect. The EU will start enforcing the legislation on March 6.
It is unknown when WhatsApp’s interoperability upgrade will be rolled out. Since the launch date is still a little over a month away, we can expect it sometime in February or very early March. Perhaps it will come to Android first, as the beta version has been out since September 2023. Please note that this is all speculation on our end. Things can always change.
Until then, check out Ny Breaking’s roundup of the best encrypted messaging apps for Android of 2024.